How To Create A Family Tree

Now that you have this information, the next step is putting it in its place. This may be one of the more complicated processes that you have to go through, but its going to be fun, too.

You have two options. First off, you can use just paper and your notes to create your family tree, which will look like a tree with all of its branches. But, this is hard to keep organized and can be a good tool if it is used correctly and managed.

The other option that you have is Family Tree Software products which can help you to determine an effective, electronic method of managing your family tree. In a later chapter we will talk more about how software can aid you in the process of uncovering your family tree. Its important, though to consider it as a tool for organization if not for finding your family members.

Placing the names of those people that you have learned about on your family tree is a process that requires a good eraser. It will be fun to put the pieces together, but it will also be difficult to organize. 

Tips For Managing Your Family Tree

These tips will help you to get your family tree up and running. Your goal is to do the best that you can to keep it organized, so that it is easy for you to use later.

• Group each person by the family that they belong to.  If they have more than one connection, place these families near each other, and show their relation. 

• Group families by how they are related.  If the two men are brothers, note this.  Determine how each family relates to each other and note it. 

• Sometimes, using index cards can help you to keep large families organized.  Even for those that are alive, create an immediate family index card, which includes the family, members, dates of birth and location that you can refer to later, over and over again. 

• Place blank spots near those people that you haven't found.  For example, if you find out that there's a sister to one of your cousins that you don't know their name, mark that there is a sister.  Later you may find their name and information. 

Every once in a while, go back to the beginning of the project and see if there are any blanks that you can fill in. Often, you can learn a lot without realizing it.

It also pays to include others in this information that you've found. For example, if you are working on your genealogy project with your sister or aunt, when they see your family tree laid out, they may remember some additional information from the information that you have gathered. This information is important to gather.

The Importance Of Pictures

Another path that you should go down with each of the people that you talk with is that of pictures. While you may not have a lot of photos yourself of your past generations, you probably have pictures of your parents and your grandparents that are treasured by you. You would never give up those pictures because they hold memories for you and the same holds true for others.

Let's say that as you are talking to your mother about her family tree she realizes that she has some photos of her childhood and perhaps you would like to look at them? By doing this it can help you to ask questions and even learn more.

While looking at the photos you may find a picture of someone you don't know. A question gets you an answer and the end result is another name is filled in on your chart!

In addition to gathering people's names and information, a genealogy project can also be benefited by having other information from the photos. You can learn what they are doing in the picture, where it was taken, perhaps what school it was from and even information about the ages of people in relation to others.

This information is easy to benefit from in a genealogy search. Make sure that you talk to every person that you have in your family about the photos that they may have. Or, even ask if their parents had photos that may be tucked away some place that you could look at. Even without first hand accounts from the people in your family can help you. A simple note on the back of the photo provides great information to you.

Photos are also prized possessions to use in creating your family tree, too. For example you can easily place these on your documentation to make names come to life.

The fact is that it's essential for you to actually learn as much as you can through this process from those that are still alive.

On the next page we'll discuss How to Do A Records Search.